Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Malcolm Smith

Doomsday News: MTA Votes, Paterson Plays Chicken, Monserrate Indicted

By Brad Aaron | Mar 23, 2009 | 8 Comments

Photo: The Daily Politics The MTA’s doomsday scenario came closer to fruition today, as agency board members took a step toward implementing planned fare hikes and service reductions while state lawmakers appeared mired in stalemate. Here are a few tidbits. Newsday filed this report on the MTA Finance Committee meeting (as live-blogged by Second Avenue […]

Poll Watch: Paterson Getting No Respect for MTA Rescue Efforts

By Ben Fried | Mar 19, 2009 | 11 Comments

If you’re the sort of person who just can’t resist unscientific internet polls (and I am), there are a couple of good ones about the current state of MTA rescue talks. In NY1’s who-to-blame poll, ineffectual Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith was getting off scot-free as of about 4:30 this afternoon: The governor, who went […]

Caption Contest: Re-name This Foursome

By Ben Fried | Mar 17, 2009 | 47 Comments

Hat tip to Liz Benjamin at the Daily Politics for this snapshot of four state senators who’ve helped concoct a stopgap, toll-less MTA funding plan that does nothing to address the imminent decline of New York’s transit system. Lest they be accused of completely shortchanging the future, they say maintenance and expansion can be taken […]

Blame Game Continues: Smith Swipes at MTA, Monserrate Goes Anti-Toll

By Brad Aaron | Mar 12, 2009 | 10 Comments

There’s MTA rescue news today from the State Senate, and none of it good. Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate, who had considered new tolls on East and Harlem River bridges acceptable as a "last resort," has flip-flopped. The Daily Politics reports that Monserrate now opposes new tolls, and faults the MTA for "failing to explain ‘specifically’ […]

Gene Russianoff on What’s Next for MTA Rescue

By Ben Fried | Mar 11, 2009 | 2 Comments

The headlines this morning were sobering for everyone who depends on New York City’s transit system. Half-baked alternatives to the Ravitch plan are popping up left and right as bridge toll opponents dig in their heels, despite the whopping service cuts and fare hikes that loom for their constituents. With Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith […]

Shelly’s Toll Plan: Promise Beyond the Headlines

By John Kaehny | Mar 2, 2009 | 17 Comments

It’s too early to know if Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s answer to the Ravitch Commission MTA bailout plan, which includes $2 tolls on East and Harlem River bridges, will make it through the state legislature. But, despite raising less money and reducing traffic much less than congestion pricing or peak-hour tolling would, the plan is […]

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